There is a fee for broadcasting this video - please contact us to discuss fee. All Rights Reserved - F Stop Press Ltd 01335 300098
The answer to bringing shops back to villages and remote communities may not be the one you'd automatically think of.
Villagers in a small Derbyshire community -- whose shop closed 13 years ago -- no longer need to drive or catch a bus into town to top-up with their essential groceries. Instead, a giant vending machine, has been installed in the local pub car park.
Local resident, Lorraine Garside, photographed using the shop yesterday said: "I don't drive so this is just amazing. It's been really busy so far and everyone loves the idea. There's even Jaffa Cakes in the machine. I'll have to be careful not to buy them all!"
The fully automated shop is the dream of designer and electrical engineer Peter Fox (50). Peter could not find a manufacturer to provide what he wanted so he'rolled up his sleeves' and has built one himself.
Peter said: "I used to live in a small village myself, and often came home late from work to find we'd run out of something. The idea of an automated shop gradually grew in my mind and I came to a point in my career where it was 'now or never', so I decided to go for it."
The 'SpeedyShop' will allow rural communities to have the access to basic provisions that have been lost with the closure of village shops.
The machine stocks over 60 products from milk and washing powder to stamps and toilet roll. It can even cope with the delicate touch needed to sell eggs. The clever machine, which uses unique technology will never run out of products as once stocks begin to run low, it automatically sends out an email requesting more. Payment for products can be made with cash or card and the machine has a number of security features including cameras and alarms.
Other rural communities around Ashbourne will be benefiting from Peter's idea, as plans are in progress to supply additional machines, which are rolled out over the next year.
Peter said: "as a small business we are fully occupied with interest from our local area here in Derbyshire, but there is no reason why this idea wouldn't work all over the country. If a large company came in with us we could expand the idea all over the UK, not just for villages but for out of hours shopping in towns and cities too."
He added: "We hope to stock the machines with local produce where possible, so we can support local businesses too".
All Rights Reserved - F Stop Press Ltd 01335 300098
Originally collected by
fetching...
(
less)
